Interesting article about Daei

[BrankoWasTheBEST]

Can Ali Daei over come his latest challenge?

Afshin Afshar, lastkick

Daei has never been what one would call “smooth” when it comes to addressing controversial issues or tough questions by the media. The man, who for years was to Team Melli what Achilles was to the Greeks, does have his own vulnerable heel after all! It is odd that the same man who for years managed to keep his cool despite most horrendous challenges on the field, so regularly fails to do the same off of it and in front of the press.

Daei seems unable to let a challenging question or comment pass without an often rash response. A few weeks ago, when a reporter asked him if his problems with Ali Karimi during his playing time had anything to do with Karimi’s exclusion from the national squad, Daei decided not to take the easy route and point to Karimi’s recent injury problem, and instead asked the reporter if he could name Karimi’s current club (Karimi is a free agent at the moment), and reportedly uttered words that the reporter interpreted to mean that Team Melli does not need Karimi.

In another instance, when Serie A defender Rahman Rezaei failed to report to the training camp on time claiming a delay in his flight from Italy was the reason, Daei promptly crossed his name off the list and replaced him with another player. The following day, Daei dismissed Rezaei’s reasoning as “unacceptable excuses” and charged him with lack of commitment to the national squad.

A couple of years ago when he was at the helm in Saipa FC, Daei was caught on video confronting a reporter whom he accused of “sticking the microphone” into his ear. The argument nearly ended in a brawl and the two had to be separated by others.

Iranian football reporters, like their counterparts around the world, love to instigate situations where a football personality loses it and says or does something worthy of a big headline. Daei has been a familiar name on the front pages of Iranian sports dailies as of late. That is a shame because in his short coaching career, Daei has actually accomplished plenty of headline-worthy tasks.

He led Saipa FC, a small Tehran suburb club, to their first IPL title, and followed that up with taking them to the knockout round of the AFC Champions league.

He took over Team Melli on short notice and help coached them passed the third qualifying round of World Cup 2010 without a single loss. According to a number of impartial reports, he has instilled a very high level of discipline in the national squad. His practice sessions are meticulously planned and very well run. Team Melli’s performance has shown small but clearly detectable signs of improvement. The players seem to respond to Daei. Arguably, a sign that the younger players respect, and perhaps like, their coach is the fact that they seem eager to run to him to celebrate after scoring a goal, or winning a match.

Daei was an excellent striker in his time, and his commitment to Team Melli was undeniable. With the very challenging Asia Group B WCQ matches ahead, one can only hope that Daei will successfully repeat his world acknowledged performance as a striker, on the bench of Team Melli as its coach. Perhaps along the way he can learn to polish his skills as an interviewee and win back legions of fans that once adored him without question.

Daei is the most famous, and arguably the best, footballer that Iran has ever produced, and he has the making of an excellent coach. It would be a shame if his career remains forever marred by a failure in mutually respectful communication.